Permanent total disability or up to three fatalities

Illnesses with irreversible health effects such as multiple asbestosis cases traced to a single exposure situation

Cancer in a large exposed population

Costs less than US $100,000

Costs between US $100,000 and US $1 million

Costs between US $1 million and US $10 million

Costs between US $10 million and US $100 million

Costs in excess of US $100 million

• 
  Infrequent slight nuisance. (Nuisance to include interference with reasonable comforts and enjoyments of life, general inconvenience relating to day to day activities or enjoyment of land).
  
• 
  No observable adverse or perceived effect on livelihood, social and cultural assets, community security, community health, vulnerable or Indigenous People.
  
• 
  Local public awareness but no discernible concern.
  

• 
  Limited short term nuisance
  
• 
  Limited effects on livelihood and/or social or cultural assets, community health.
  
• 
  No observable adverse effect on community security, vulnerable or Indigenous Peoples.
  
• 
  Local public concern.
  

• 
  Persistent nuisance.
  
• 
  Effects on livelihood and/or social and cultural assets, community health.
  
• 
  Limited observable effects on community security, vulnerable or Indigenous Peoples.
  
• 
  Local or Regional public concern.
  
• 
  Local stakeholders, e.g. community, NGO, industry and government, are aware.
  

• 
  Persistent effects on livelihood and/or social and cultural assets, community health.
  
• 
  Effects on community security, vulnerable or Indigenous Peoples and/or human rights infringements, that are serious and/or at a community level.
  
• 
  Mitigation is complex or protracted.
  
• 
  National public concern.
  
• 
  Impact on local and national stakeholder relations.
  
• 
  National government and/or NGO involvement with potential for international NGO action.
  

• 
  Persistent, severe impact on livelihood, social and cultural assets, community security, community health, vulnerable or Indigenous Peoples and/or human rights infringements.
  
• 
  Impact may affect a large geographic area or population.
  
• 
  Mitigation is complex or protracted, and of limited effectiveness.
  
• 
  International public concern.
  
• 
  High level of concern and action(s) by governments and/or by international NGOs.
  

No Impact to the Environment

Slight environmental damage contained within the premises.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• 
  A small spill in a process area or tank farm area that readily evaporates.
  

Minor environmental damage, but no lasting effect.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• 
  A small on-site spill with potential to harm the environment that has no off-site impact.
  

• 
  On-site groundwater contamination with no potential for off-site contamination.
  

• 
  A single exceedance of statutory or other prescribed limit.
  

Limited environmental damage that will persist or require cleaning up.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• 
  A spill with potential to harm the environment that requires removal and disposal of over 100 m³ of impacted soil/sand.
  

• 
  A spill with potential to harm the environment which reaches surface water off-site.
  

• 
  Off-site groundwater contamination.
  

• 
  Off-site habitat and/or ecology effects or damage, e.g. fish kill or damaged vegetation.
  

• 
  Repeated exceedance of statutory or other prescribed emission limit for longer than 3 months and/or, with potential long-term effect.
  

Severe environmental damage that will require extensive measures to restore beneficial uses of the environment.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• 
  A spill to water with potential to reach a shore and cause harm to the environment. Off-site contamination of surface or groundwater over an extensive area.
  

• 
  Requirement for Tier 2 oil spill emergency response.
  

• 
  Off-site habitat and/or ecology effects or damage for greater than 1 year.
  

• 
  Extended exceedances of statutory or other prescribed emission limits for greater than 1 year and/or with potential long-term effect.
  

Examples include but are not limited to:

• 
  A spill resulting in pollution of a large tract of wetlands, ocean, part of a river estuary or beach/coastal habitat
  

• 
  Requirement for Tier 3 oil spill emergency response.
  

• 
  Persistent off-site habitat and/or ecology effects or damage with proven long-term effect.